Destroying a beer's legacy...

I would love to have a beer with you! Let's start with a California SN because NC not cuttin' it...

 

KBS was an extraordinary marketing ploy. They held back more than supply and demand warranted and charged a huge premiums for the "sacred stout". It worked well to say the least. It put founders on the map and made them multi millions. I remember a waiting list at the liquor store for 1 bottle for ten dollars.

 

Another thing to consider is how this has affected the retailers (my primary concern is for the small independent). I have a local shop I love to support. There is so much beer coming out now, and yes much of it is really good, but saturation level is here. He has quite a few regular customers, like me, who purchase weekly. But it is amazing to see the inventory piling up over the the last few years. He really has done a great job meeting the wants of his clientele. He KNOWS what is going on, who has switched distributors, which newer breweries are producing something interesting, which release might be received with less enthusiasm, etc... But still, the FW, 50/50 (yes, I know there is a serious price issue with this one), Founders, and sometimes even Bottle Logic are sitting on the shelf.

Many of the points made earlier regarding hype, rarity, etc. are spot on. I'm just a little worried about how difficult it is for the small retailer (even a well studied one) to survive this new era.

 

A suggestion if I may. No hater here, been there, had that happen to me. Are you focusing entirely on intense flavored beers and lots of high ABV?

I ask because your taste bud maybe overwhelmed by so much flavor intensity so regularly (They do that sometimes. That’s what happens with folks who are hot pepper sauce geeks. Then it takes stronger and stronger heat, etc for them to taste and enjoy.)

If that’s your pattern, try walking away from any beer at all for a while, say 2 weeks at least.

When you return start with SN Pale Ale first and only have the intense stuff as a special treat while sticking with lower ABV varieties. There are some with enjoyable flavors but you may need to spend time “looking” to find them.

Worked for me and some other folks on here, might work for you.

 

Personally, I think they have hurt their legacy. How can moving from uniquely wonderful to me-too be an improvement in legacy?

 

Evidence?

 

Well they actually did what made a lot of people happy; They increased production levels. I’m certainly happy about that, many years it was a 1-2 bottle limit, this year I could have bought 10 cases or more. I think KBS is better fresh, but I’d prefer it 6 months old to not having any. CBS I got but I don’t get it, if there was any maple in it it was lost on me.

 

Am I the only one who still thinks CBS and KBS are fantastic beers? I haven’t had the most recent vintage but as of the last time I had either (within the last year to 18months I’d guess) both were still excellent and CBS was still world class (haven’t had any of the 12oz formats yet, but got a couple of the last release of the 750s.)

Also, I’ve have both with multiple years age on them in the past and they still drank well. Its not like they are bad at 6months like an IPA, so I don’t really get he point about them sitting on the shelves.

 

I liked both -- and if they didn't do the ultra hazy variant so well I'd probably agree w you. Cheers

 

Bud Lite.

 

Not at all. I considered the 2018 KBS to be better than the 2016 (the only two years I've had), and the 2018 CBS to be (quoting my review), "A great sipping beer. A complex blending of mostly subtle flavors. One of the best."

Maybe it's that "mostly subtle flavors" that has everyone so down on it. It seems that if it doesn't slap you in the face, it is not any good.

 

Theres so many new, great beers coming out. At my shop ive noticed beers that we had to limit to 1 per person last year, we now have to put on sale just to sell them

 

Poo-Bahs always have such kind,wise words...thank you.
Like most people here I do drink a lot of IPA's..and double IPA's....I think I saw this thread as a way to let off steam about one of my fave breweries not taking their product where I expected it to go...

 

I recognized that but...

The idea comes kit from her but my life outside and a friend who helped me to understand the human senses

 

No, not the only one for sure! My comment about both is... Deeeelissshhhhh! My comment about them being on the shelf all year around is... Thank You!

Your post made me want to go get a bottle of KBS to put in the fridge, and I am off to do that after hitting post reply. Cheers!

 

I'm not following this one. pseudoSue had massive national hype, far beyond its distribution boundaries, very shortly after it debuted in 2011 (maybe even before it debuted; I think I remember talk of "Toppling Goliath is about to release an all Citra APA and I bet it's gonna be amazeballs!"). People have been complaining about it not tasting like it used to pretty much ever since. Same for King Sue in 2014.

As someone who has followed Toppling Goliath from its highly heralded beginning, I sometimes feel like I'm reading weird fictional "What If?" alternate histories about it.

(But maybe I'm misinterpreting the post.)

 

Great beer fresh, with a bit of age on it the pepper fades badly. One reason why I don’t really care for Bomb, if there’s ever any heat at all in one I missed it.

 

I don't know if this makes you feel any better or not, but we just got some pliny drafts at bars in Massachusetts and I was damn pleased with it. Tasted like the best Sip of Sunshine from Lawsons I had ever had. I hope we get more!!!

 

I think most of the “beer isn’t as good as it used to be” stuff is just maturing and changing palates as you try more and different beers. Sure there’s beers that lost it, I’ve seen it happen with Hop Drop and Roll when they increased production after winning a gold medal at GABF. But I think that’s a rarity, in HDR case they really lost it, it just turned into some weird funny tasting DIPA, it wasn’t off a little it was off the charts bad. If that’s still true or not I don’t know, it’s long gone from around here.

 

Well people may be complaining but both beers currently have 100 scores and are ranked #40 and 120 on BA. Fact not weird fiction...